This is a case of a 4-year-old girl with mild eczema and occasional bouts of vomiting which illustrates that patience pays off in homeopathy.

I first saw Selina in August of 2011. Selina developed eczema on her wrists at age 2.5 with flare ups in the winter and improvements in the summer. During a recent summer holiday in Europe she developed eczema on her legs, a new area, and in the summer.

In April of this year Selina had a bout of vomiting that lasted for a week and required hospitalization for rehydration. During the holiday in Europe in the summer she developed another attack and vomited for two days. The vomiting was stopped with suppositories. Five days after the family returned to Canada it started again, Selina was again brought to a hospital for it.

Health history

During the pregnancy the mother was diagnosed with a bad streptococcus-B vaginal infection and took antibiotics before the birth. There were a lot of changes in the family during the pregnancy, with the parents moving and starting new jobs.

Selina developed a very bad diaper rash as an infant which caused bleeding. Even cortisone cream was ineffective but coconut cream helped.

Personality

This is a robust looking and outgoing child. The mother reports that Selina has no fears and loves to climb up heights, holding on only with one hand. She has a brother who is two years older and much more cautious. Selina could bicycle without training wheels at three years old already. She has been dressing herself since age two and makes her own choices.

I noticed that she has a very determined look to her. She is feisty and thinks nothing of hitting her brother. She can have tantrums with 40-50 minutes of screaming, but then is suddenly done.

Foods

She loves carrots with dip, toast with marmite, lemon ice cream (2), lemons and loves to eat ice cubes (2). She also likes green apples, oranges and mandarins (2). She doesn't like beef, fish only in fish sticks. She likes seaweed and lox. She loves butter (3) and would eat it by the spoonful or thick on bread.

Other Generals

She sleeps mostly on her back and still often comes to the parents' bed at night. Sometimes she talks and laughs in her sleep. She does not like wearing shoes and socks, indoors or out, even on woodchips.

She loves to stay up late, preferably all night.

I asked about family members who are similar to Selina. The mother reports that she has a sister who is very determined.

Mother's health history

The mother was not vaccinated until age 14 when she received a rabies shot after her horse had been bitten by a rabid fox. The horse killed the fox.

She had a tetanus shot at 15. She has worked on a reservation with TB infected people and had a positive TB test at 29 but refused treatment. A chest x-ray was clear.

The mother's mother was told she had an encapsulation in her lung, likely from previous TB exposure.

Father's health history

He has a tendency to colds with bronchitis and can cough for weeks on end.

Assessment:

A robust, generally health child with mild eczema and unexplained bouts of vomiting.

Homeopathically I considered Medorrrhinum because of the intense diaper rash as an infant, her generally outgoing temperament, her desire to take off her shoes and socks and her liking for butter, ice, lemons, green apples and oranges, all keynotes for medorrhinum. I also considered Tuberculinum because of the possible ancestral exposure to TB and homeopathic antibiotics because the mother had to take antibiotics for the strep infection before delivery.

Plan: Medorrhinum 30CH once a day.

Follow-up September 2011:

No change at all. I decided to try a higher dose of Medorrhinum just to make sure. I gave a single dose of Medorrhinum 10 MK.

Follow-up October 2011:

No change whatsoever.

Time to reconsider. What struck me most about this little girl was her robust appearance with red cheeks and bright shiny eyes, her interest in exploring my office and her obviously high intelligence. Her face was also quite square with well-developed jaws and good spacing between her teeth. I reconsidered the case and decided to give Sulphur 30CH. Sulphur children also don't like to wear socks and shoes, are generally fearless and robust as well as quite independent and can love fats, including butter. They often have digestive and skin problems.

Follow-up December 2011

Her eczema has completely disappeard! We found the remedy. Thank goodness the family was patient. I kept explaining that eczema is a good sign in a way as it only affects children who are fairly robust. Selina was very chatty on this visit and drew a beautiful picture for me, the little sweetie.

I had also received a call from the mother a few days before our scheduled appointment to tell me that Selina had started another bout of vomiting. She was very concerned because of the previous severity of her attacks with hospitalizations. Luckily the mother had a homeopathic first aid kit and I recommended she try Gelsemium and then Ipecec if that did not help. One dose of Ipecec 30 CH and the vomiting was history!

What joy for the homeopath!

Update on Selina as of February 2012

Selina has developed molluscum contagiosum, a common type of wart in young children. She also has several plantar warts on one foot. We are now treating her for those warts, so far without success. Well, it's a good way to remain humble.

We may have to take the mother's possible exposure to TB in mind for the next step.

I will keep posting the occasional update.